Flax pulling and harvesting machine.



N. E. FUNK 1L. P.. WHHAKER. FLAX PULLING AND HAHVESTING MACHINE.

A'PPLICATION FiLED OCT. 2l. l9l4.

Patented July 6, 1915 6 SHEETS-SHEFT I.

I K1/1) f m ATTQRNEYS W/TNESSES /f, j

N. E. FUNK 6L L. P. WHITAKER.

FLAX PULLING AND HARVESTING MACHINE.

APPu'cATxoN FILED ocT.21.19|4. 1

l ,145,01 2, Patented July 6, 1915 6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N. E. FUNK & L. P. WHITAKER. FLAX PULLING AND HARVESTING MACH'INE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 21. i914.

' Patented. July 6, 1915.

6 SHEETS -SHEET 3.

N. E.' FUNK & L. P. WHHAKER.

FLAx PULLINGAND HARVIESUNG MACHINE. APLICATI'ON FILED DQT. 2h1914.'

1,145,01 2. v Patented. July 6, 1915.

, l A U 4 6 SHEETS-sneer 4.

P M l/WENTHfS MMM 6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

Patented July 6, 1915 APPLICATION FILED OCT. ZI 1914.

N. E. FII-NK L L. P. WHITAKER. FLAX PULLING AND HARVESTING MACHINE.

Anm/H5 x gw@ N. E. FUNK L i., P. WHITAKER. FLAX PULLING AND HARVESYIMG MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED 061221.11914. l Patented July 6, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

' 11 is a side elevation of the sm NELSON' 4E. FUNK, 0F MONTCLAI, NEW JERSEY, AND LOUIS P. WHITAKER, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.; SAID FUNK ASSIGNOR T0 VICTOR E.- FREEMAN, 0F NEWYORK, N. Y.

FLAX PULLING AND HARVESTNQMACHINE.-

Original application led April 3, 1314,

To all 'whom it may concern.'

Be it known that we, NELSON E. FUNKv and useful lmprovements in Flax Pullingand Harvesting Machines; and we do here by declare lthe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to' which it appertains to make and use the same. c

Our invention consists 1n the novel features Vhereinafter described, reference beingl had to the accompanying drawing in which we have shown one embodiment of our '1nf vention', selected by us for purposes of illustration, and the said invention 1s fully disclosed in the claims.

Referring to the said drawings z-Figure 1 represents a longitudinal sectional view following description and taken through a flax harvesting machinepulling'units showing the pulling chains inI their open positions at the forward ends thereof. Fig. 5 is a similar detailed view showing the chains in closed position at their front ends. Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line `67-6 of Fig. 1l. Fig. 7 is a yfront view'of one of thev links for one of said chains. Fig. 9 is a front view of one of the links of the opposing chain. Fig. 10 is a plan view of a smallapparatus for pulling fiax only Fig. l apparatus,

and containing a single pulling' unit.

shown in Fig.10. Fig. 12 is a rear view of adjacent connected. clamping plates, parts being shown in section. Fig. 13 is a lfront view of the same. 3

o Growing flax is ordinarily harvested in one'of two ways according to theuse to Specification ofLetters Patent.

Fig. 8 isa rear view of the same.'

Patented duly 5, i915;

Serial No. 829,213. Divided and this yapplication lcd'etcber 21, Serial No. 867,723.

which the product is to beput., lfitis harvested for the purpose of obtaining the seed for the production of linseed oil, it isordinarily cut and thereafter threshed for the removal of the seed in a manner not unlike the handling of other grain. When, however, the flax is desired in order that its liber may beextracted for the manufacture of linen, it is found that satisfactory commercial results are not obtained if the flax is cut olf, and that such satisfactory results can only be .obtained when the plants are pulled root and all from the ground. This is a recognized fact in handling liax, and it is also observed that the removal of the roots from the ground enables the farmer to obtain better results from successive crops.

The pulling of flax is ordinarily accomplished by hand and is very expensive on aecount of the labor involved.l It will be apparent that, in case flax is harvested for the purpose of producing linseed oil, the straw is a loss and yields no return to the farmer, and, on thejother hand, where'the flax is pulled for the purpose of utilizing the ber, it is practically impossible to obtain the seed commercially, as the plants are pulled in a more .or less immature stateand the seed is lost.

The object of theA present invention is to provide mechanical means for enablingthe flax to be pulled from the ground with the roots without the use of hand labor, and we also contemplate the embodiment of the flax pulling apparatus hereinafter described in a machine equipped with the usual selfbindlng mechanism '1n use in 'connectionwith other grains, and provided further with mechanism by means of which the stalks' of linseed oil and other; linseed products. lt`

is found that the base ,of the seed'cup or pod, which comprises a tiny button, adheres very strongly to the end of the branch of the I plant on which it grows and is'apparently intimately connected ,with the ends of the fibers temmnatmgg'at such buttontand the presence of'the'se cups or lbuttons persists in the after treatment of the ber ,so that it is very advantageous to eliminate them as far as possible iniseparating the seed pods from 'the plants and the special mechanism hereinafter described is4 especially designed to separate substantially all of the buttons, or seed pod bases, as well as the pods and seeds from the plants, so that the stalks with roots attached may be bound up in bundles or otherwise delivered from theV machine ready j for treatment for vthe production of linen.

In our former application for Letters Patent of the U. S. filed April 3, 1914:, Serial No. 829,213, we have shown, described and claimed a complete flax-harvesting machine provided with pulling mechanism, mechanism for combing the stalks for the removal of seed pods, seeds, and buttons, and also with binding mechanism for binding the combed plants, and this application, which is a division of our former'applicaj tion, is directed moreparticularly to the pulling mechanism for pulling the growing stalks of the grain against longitudinalv movement, which comprises opposing-parts provided with separate ribs, or flanges, eX-

tending substantially transversely of the grain or flax, the ribs of one of saidfopposing -parts alternating lwith those of the v other, and being constructed and arranged in connection therewith, so that when the grain is gripped between the opposing parts it is deflected back .and forth in a serpentine manner between the alternating ribs, the-OI posing parts having integral portions eX- tending transversely and secured to and supporting all of the ribs thereof. By this means the flax or other similar material can be gripped so as to prevent its being pulled out longitudinally without the necessity for any particular pressure being exerted on the plant by the alternating ribs, and it is also found'that thc device indicated will hold the plantsfirmly whether there is a single stalk or a large number of stalks so bent and deflected by the opposing and alternating ribs. The relation between the projections on the opposing plates `we desi gnate as intermeshing, as itis somewhat simil' lr to the relation atooth of a gear wheebears to the teeth of' an engaged rack or gear wheel between-which it enters, and this relation is not to'be confused with the .ordinary-clamping of stalks between flat surfaces either lsmooth or roughened as the operation of such devices is quite different, there being no clamping in the ordinary sense, but a holding of the stalks against longitudinal movement by the bends imparted to them by the intermeshing projections. ing this basic idea in an apparatus for continuously pulling flax we provide an'endless band or carrier consisting in this instance of a plurality of plates pivotally connected so as to form an endless arrangement of such plates, said pla-tes being provided with the ribs before referred to and being caused to travel around suitable rollers, the ribs acting in conjunction with opposing ribs alternating therewith on another endless band or carrier formed also, in this instance, of a series of plates similarly arranged and driven, the stalks being gripped between opposed parallel portions of said endless bands or carriers and carried thereby from one end of the unit to the other and the said pair ot endless bands or carriers so formed are given a suitable inclination from the horizontal from front to rear so that the stalks are gradually elevated as they are carried to the rear, and in practice the opposing bands are operated toward the rear at substan? tially the same speed as the machine moves forwardly, the effect of which is to simply pull'the stalks out of the ground as the machine progresses. j x y Various forms of chain plates -orflinks may' be used but We have found `one desirable and satisfactory construction to be that shown in Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive, in which the plates of vone band are provided with three ribs while .the plates of` the opposing band are provided with two ribs arranged to alternate with the three ribs of the opposing plate. To` facilitate the supporting' and driving of the bands, we prefer to either connect the plates to the links bf a suitable driving chain,or to cast the plates and links integrally as shown in the drawings reL ferred to. Fig. 7, for example, shows the front face of a chain plate 1 provided with three ribs 2, and in order to insure the continuity of the ribs throughout the band, We A find it convenient to make these ribs half the width desired for the operative ribs and to form the ribs on each of said plates in two sections as shown at 2 and 2a out of aline-l ment with each other, the said rib portions,v

2 and 2a projecting from the transverse'y edges of the plates in such a manner that when the plates are in longitudinal-alinement the portions 2' of one plate will occupy positions alongside of the parts 2 of the adjacent plate and vice versa, as shown, for

example, in Fig. 13, the effect of which is .to produce ribs extending longitudinally of the chain of plates when the plates are in a straight line. It will also be understood that vthe opposing'plates 15,01' those of the i adjacent band are provided with similar rib portions 2 and 2 inv a similar manner, the only difference being that they are so located that the ribs of one band alternate 'with those of the opposing plate at all times when they are in opposition. In this instance we have shown the back of each of said plates provided with link portions 3 having portions 3a at one end in closer proX- imity to each other and] adapted to receive between them a friction roller 4, said link portions 3 and 3 being provided with suitable vapertures to receive the pivotal connections connecting said link portions with the linkl portions of the,\adjacent plates. We prefer to pass a hollow cylindrical sleeve 5 through the apertures in the links and the central aperture of the roll 4 which sleeve forms the bearing for the roll and the pivot for the links, arid this sleeve is held in position by a rivet 6 whiclrpasses therethrough and Vis provided with a head at each end as indicated -in Fig. 6.

The pulling unit comprises two bands, the

one formed o f links 1 and the other formed` of links la, said bands being mounted at each end of the unit on a sprocket wheel 7 or 7, see Figs. 10 and 11, and 4 and 5. The adjacent laps of the two bands'are held in proper interlocking engagement by su1table guides 8, 8, extending longitudinally of the unit and in order to allow for the slight separation of the opposed plates in case an obstacle or a bunch of material should get between them, and to hold them yieldingly in proper relation with each other, one or bothjof the guides 8 is provided with a spring..l In Figs. 4 and 5 for example, wev havev shown one of said guides laterally movable and provided with a leaf spring 9,

the .other being riIgidly supported in any suitable manner. t is also preferred that the sprocket Wheel 7 on the side adjacent to the yielding guide 8 should also be mounted in movable bearings against suitable retracting springs in order that it may yield laterally slightly if occasion may require. Thus in Fig. lO'we have indicated in dotted linesV one of the bearings for the movable sprocket wheel,.arranged to slide laterally and provided with a retracting spring l0.

It is desirable to have the links as long as possible longitudinally of the band and at .kthefwsame time to have. the sprocket wheels ass'mall as'possible, and we prefer to provide the sprocket wheels as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 with/five teeth each, and ofvery small diameter. VVitl?Iv this tvpe of sprocket it will be seen that as the rolls of the chains vpassgaroundthe front of the sprockets they will present the links successively in a position inclined .to the 'opposing links of the otherchain 'as clearly shownin Fig. 4, thus the space, between theribsyis much greater `between the inner ends of the .same plate.

This affords a very considerable opening which facilitates the entrance of the standing grain between the opposing plates and upon a further revolution of the sprocket 7 half of the distance between two teeth, as indicated in Fig. 5, the opposing plates are pressed closely'together and their friction rolls immediately pass on to the guides 8 so that such plates are never permitted to separate again until they have reached the rear or upper end of the unit, and during all this time the fiaX or other material is firmly clamped between the opposing plates and forced into the serpentine relation previously described, by the opposed alternating ribs of the chain plates.

The apparatusy shown in Figs. 10 and 11 comprises what might be termed the simplest form, or embodiment of our invention and consists of a main supporting frame 11 mounted on suitable wheels 12 and 13, the said frame being provided with means for supporting the front sprockets 7 which are idle, and also being provided with driving shafts 111 carrying the rear sprockets indicated at 7 which impart motion to the endless bands. The front wheels l2, in this instance, are the traction wheels and are connected by means of sprocket gearing with a transverse shaft l5 carrying a beveled driving wheel 16 meshing with a beveled pinion 17 0n one of the driving shafts 14, the two driving shafts being connected for rotation by intermeshing gears 18. The pulling bands are thus maintained in an inclined position as shown and the front end of the'mechanism is provided with suitable guards 19 for deiecting the stalks inward to the grip or bite of the opposed plates. We may provide an over-head reel indicated at 20 supported on a suitable shaft 2l and operated by sprocket or other gearing from the driving mechanism of the machine as indicated in Figs. 10 andll to assist in presenting the iax to the pulling mechanism.; We also prefer to provide mechanism for knocking' oii" the dirt adhering to the roots, and, in this instance we have shown a beater 22 supported below the forward portion of the pulling chains and connected by sprocket or other gearing with the drivingr mechanism of the machine forstriking the roots as they depend from the chain plates and removing the vdirt therefrom.

is loppoy From a consideration of Figs. 10 and 11 tionsthereof will move rearward, and, preferably,at the same speed as the forward progress of .the machine. The stalks .will

, be gripped between the opposing plates in the manner hereinbefore described and the effect upon them of the upward travel of the bands is t`o pull the stalks vertically out of the ground while the beater 22 knocks ofl the dirt and the stalks are carried upward and discharged at the rear ends of the pulling chains. 'lhe machine illustrated in Figs.y and 1l will obviously only pull a narrow swath but it is only necessary to provide a machine with a plurality of these pulling units arranged side by side to pull in a desired width or swath simultaneously, and in the type of machine illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, we contemplate the provision of five at least of these units, al-

though the number is not material. It will be obvious that the flax may be pulled by the machine shown in Figs. 10 'and 11 and discharged rearwardly on the ground and afterward remo'ved'in any desired manner for treatment,' andit will alsobe apparent instead of dragging the machine over the ground it may e propelled by a tractor or a suitable engine mounted on the frame of the machine and operatively connected with the pulling mechanism or with the traction wheels or both.

In the embodiment ot our invention illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, we have shown a machine which is provided with a plurality of pulling units, the opposing bands of which are 'indicated at 100 and 101 respectively, supported in front of a horizontally disposed receiving grain platform 30 over which passes Ia horizontal apron 31. In this instance the shafts 114 which carry the upper sprocket Wheels for the pulling units are provided with sprocket wheels 115 connected by sprocket chains 116 with sprockets 11 on inclined shafts 118'provlded with sprocket wheels 119 at their lower ends and said sprocket wheels 119 are driven by a continuous chain passing around the successive wheels 119 in opposite directions, as shown in Fig. 2, thus imparting motion from a driving sprocket 120 which is geared with the driving shaft 121 of the machine. The frame work of the machine is supported upon a suitable bull wheel 122 which may be operatively connected with the driving shaft 121 'by means of beveled gearing as indicated in Fig. 2,*or the driving shaft 121 may be driven by a moto-r supported on avlnachine or by a connection with the motor of a tractor employed to draw the machine over the ground as may be found most desirable. In Fig. 2 the pulling bands of one unit have been removed in order to show the gearing therel for.

80 for assisting pthe grain to enter between the opposing bands of the several pulling units and a supplementary reel 81 for facilitating the discharge ofthe stalks on to the horizontal carrier 31, and -we havev also shown the beater 82 located below the forward portions of the various pullingl units for knocking the dirt ofi' the roots of the plants, the parts being connected by sprocket gearing or other suitable gearing with the driving mechanism of the machine.

It will be understood that as the opposing bands herein referred to are designed to grip and pull or convey stalks of flax or other grain which have a very small diameter and are practically smooth on the exterior, it is important that the inter-meshing longitudinally extending ribs of the pulling or gripping units shall'be held very firmly in engagement as any vibration thereof or move- -their hold on theslender stalks which are confined and held only by the fact that they are bent back and. forth by the intermeshing ribs. It is important therefore that the endless bands shall have integral transverse portions connected to all the ribsof the band for supporting them and' holding said ribs firmly against any change of position with respectto each other. In the construction herein shown and described the plate por-v tions of the endless bands connect the ribs and support them rigidlv transversely of the band throughout its length.

lVhat we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. Mechanism for gripping and carrying grain stalks comprising opposed members each provided with a plurality of ribs disposed transversely with respect to the stalks. the ribs of one of said members being out of transverse alinement with and intermeshing with those of the other member. and each of transverse alinement with and intcrmeshing wlth those of the other member, and cach' of V said members being provided with integral transversely extending bodv portions con! and maintaining them in fixed relation with each member being separated a greater dis-f` tance thanl the width of the ribs of the opposing member.' i f' Mechanism for gripping and carrying grain stalks',- `comprising a 'pairfof endlessbands arranged side by side sov that a porlnected with all of the ribs of said member' holding them from movement with respect tion'pf one band isfparallel to and opposed i to a Qportion of the othband at all times, Veaohof said bands being provided with a plurality of proiecting ribs disposed lengt tudiiglally thereof and extending throughout the entire length of the band, the ribs of one ban being out` of alinement transversely with and internieshing `with Vthose of the otheil band throughout the parallel opposed portions of said bandsq said bands being vprovided with integral transversely extend- .ingportions secured to and supporting all of the lribs thereof, and-means forA driving said endless hands. If'

4. Mechanism ior grippingand carrying' grain stalks comprising a pair oi endless bands disposed vertically and arranged side by side so that a portion of one band is par-l allel and opposed to a portion of the otherband at all times, said bands being inclined upwardly from one end to the other of said parallel portions, each of said bands being provided with a pluralitv of projecting ribs` A disposed longitudinally thereof and ext/ending throughout the entire lengtlr of the band, the ribs of one band being' out of.

alinement transversely with and intermeshing with those of the other band throughout the parallel opposed portions of said bands,v

said hands being provided with "integral transversely extending portieris secured to and supporting all of the ribs thereof, and

to each other, and means for' driving said endless bands so. that the opposed portionsmove in the Same direction and at the same speed.

5.' A flax pulling mechanism comprising a pair of endless bands having opposed par.

allel. 'vertical portions, saidybands having .their rear ends at a greater distance from theground than their forward ends and extending upwardly and rearwardly in an 1nclined direction, said hands being each provided with a pluralityr of longitudinal ribs alternating with and intermeshing with the ribs of 'the other band, and each of said bands having transverse integral portions connecting and supporting all of the said ribs thereof, means for advancing the bands forwardly over the ground, and means for driving said bands in directions to cause the opposed portions thereof to move rearwardly at substantially the same trate of speed as the forward movement of the bands.

6. A iiax pulling mechanism' comprising a' pair of endless bands having `opposed. parallel vertical portions, said bands having their rear ends ata greater .distance from the ground than their forward ends and extending upwardly and rearwardly in an inclined direction, said bands being each provided with a plurality of longitudinal ribs alternating with and intermeshing with the ribs oit' the other band, and each 'of said f andere bands having transverse integral portions connecting and supporting all of the said ribs, means for advancingl the bands .forwardly over the ground, means for driving said bands in directions to cause the opposed portions thereof to move rearwardly at substantially the same' rate of speed as the forward movement of the bands, and means for ing upwardly and rearwardlyin an inclined direction, said bands being each provided with projecting portions disposed transversely of the stalks and formingy continuous longitudinal ribs of uniform cross section Jhrouhout the parallel portions of the' bands, sai bands being each provided with transversely disposed portions having 'a rigid connection with all of the ribs of the band for holding them in fixed relation with each other, and the ribs of one band alternating and intermeshing with the ribs of the other band, means for driving said bands to cause the opposed portions thereof to move rearwardly at the same speed, and means for advancing the bands forwardly over the ground 8. A dax pulling mechanism comprising a pair of endless bands having opposed parallel vertical portions, 'said bands having their rear ends at a greater distance from the cground than their forward ends and extending upwardly and rearwardly in an inclined direction, said bands being each provided with projecting portions disposed transversely of the stalks and forming continuous longitudinal ribs of uniform cross section throughout the parallel portions of the bands, said bands being each provided with transversely disposed portions having a rigid connection with all of the ribs of the band for holding them in fixed relation with each other, and the ribs of one band alternating and intermeshing with the ribs of the other band, means for driving said bands to cause the opposed portions thereof to move rearwardly at the same speed, means for advancing the 'bands forwardly over the ground, and guiding devices on opposite sides of the parallel portions of said bands between the front an :rear ends of said parallel portions forho ding the said ribs of the opposed portions in operative relation.

9. Mechanism for gripping and carrying flexible stalks` e prising a pair of endless carriers having' need parallel portions imparting movement to the opposed por ety ins

and provided with a plurality of separate gripping plates, said plates being each provided- With projecting ribs disposed transversely of the stalks and alternating With the ribs of the opposed plate of the other carrier for gripping the stalks and deiectthe ribs of the plates of the opposing chain.'

l1.l Mechanism' for gripping and carrying iexible stalks comprising a pair of endless carriers having parallel portions, each of said carriers being provided With a plurality of separate plates, each of said plates `being provided with ribbed portions disposed transversely of the stalks and alternating with the ribs of the plates of theA opposing `carrier, the ribbed portionsof the plates' of each carrier extending beyond the' transversely disposed edges of the plates and overlapping portions 0f adjacent plates, When 1n allnement therewith.

12. Mechanism for gripping and carrying iiexible stalksicomprising a pair ofendless carriers, having parallel portions, l,each of said carriers being p1 ovided with a plurality of separate plate each of said,` plates being provided with ribbed portions disposed transversely of the stalksand alter'- nating with the ribs of the plates of the opposing carrier, the ribbed portions carried yby each plate comprising portions in different longitudinal planes -and projecting ,7

yond the transverse edges of the'p`Iats,/-71,l

whereby the rib portions of one plate Willi substantially horizontally and alternating with the ribs of the plates of the opposing chain, said chains having their rear ends supported a` greater distance above the ground than the forward ends, and means for driving said chains so as to effect the movement of said opposed portions from front to rear.

In testimony whereof We aix our signa-v tures, in the presence of two Witnesses.

NELsoN E. FUNK. LoUrs P. WHITAKER.

Witnesses:

HARRIET S. Haelen, VICTOR E. Fangen-AN., 

